Differences

The first difference between these two novels can be expressed by the time period they both take place in. For example, Suzanne Collins writes the novel based on a futuristic point of view at which the society lives in a technology-based life. They have trains that move at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. They also have, what is called the Cornucopia, which is the arena in which the tributes battle. In this arena, the Gamemakers can change, create, or destroy anything they choose. They can make it a desert, an ocean, or in this novel, a forest of trees. This technology helps them to make the games much more enjoyable for the Capital’s residents and very dangerous for the tributes playing inside. They even have force fields that are located on the roof tops of the tribute’s temporary homes in the city that prevent them from jumping or escaping the fate they were chosen to endure (140). In Orwell’s novel, the story takes place in the future, but not so far into the future. For example, the title in 1984 is supposed to take place in the year 1984. This shows that life was really not developed yet, based on technology. Much of the technology that they do have goes into their military weapons, but many of them are just rockets that are shot into the air to destroy whatever they can hit. So, by the examples, these two novels are quite different based on how advanced they are in the future. The Hunger Games takes place in a time where life is very dependant on technology to get them through the day such as vehicles, personal enjoyment, and basic needs that they use throughout the day. 1984, on the other hand, really does not have the technology that they can deem as futuristic. They do not have vehicles, or modes of transportation other than their legs to get them from place to another. They result to a more primitive mode of life where the Party gives them nothing to enjoy so that things do not get out of hand in the future. My second difference between these two novels and societies is their status in the world as a superpower. In The Hunger Games, not one, but two wars strike this nation as it becomes what it is in the story. The first comes after many storms, droughts, and fires that engulf the world. After the first war, the Capitol is born and it shows what could be in the future as the supreme ruler. Well, soon after, the districts rise up and are easily destroyed, the 13th, obliterated. The Hunger Games are a reminder of those dark days and that they should never be repeated ever again (Collins 18). So, as you can tell, the story talks of only one superpower, Panem. They seem to be ruling the world, or what was left of it after the wars. In contrast, 1984 tells of how three superpowers in the world gained power after the revolution. The first and the largest of the three is of course Oceania: ruling what was known as England, parts of Africa, Australia, and the western hemisphere of the world. The next and second largest superpower is Eurasia: ruling all of Russia, and the rest of the European nations that existed. Finally, the smallest of the three nations is Eastasia: ruling most or all of the Asian countries that existed before the revolution (Orwell 185). These three nations do indeed have their own entities, but they are not ruling alone in the world. In Collins’ novel, Panem seems to be ruling what was known as North America and is ruling by itself. In Orwell’s novel, Oceania has to deal and fight with two other nations that exist after the revolution. These two nations might have looked the same on the inside, but they are quite different when it comes to who is ruling and how they are ruling their societies. The third difference between the two novels is the fact that the hunger games are included in one of the novels and not in the other, or a sort of remembrance of the revolts and revolutions that took place prior to the creation of Panem. In The Hunger Games, the book is solely based on the fact of a game that has been used as a tactic by the government to control its people and to try to prevent another uprising. These games help keep all 12 districts at the hand of the government’s mercy in order to keep the balance in check and create some sort of entertainment activity that all citizens can participate in and enjoy (Collins 18). Well, some might enjoy it while others are appalled and want nothing to do with the games. Before the games, all the citizens between the ages of 12 and 18 are entered into a glass ball where they each have their names entered. The representative from the Capitol then picks a name from both the male and female entries. Those names selected then go through the process of training and preparation for the actual games that would take later that week. In the environment, the tributes must then fight to the death until one final remaining candidate stands alone in the arena and is crowned victor with endless food for their district for the next year. In contrast, 1984 does not, in any way, have a game that would keep their citizens in check. Instead, they have spies, telescreens, and mini microphones placed in strategic areas throughout the cities (Orwell 2). They use this information in order to pin-point a person that could or would seem to be going against the Party in any manner. These two nations do have the same form of government, but they control them in two different ways. That is, one has the games to help keep fear in the citizens, while the other keeps peer-pressure using the telescreens and informants. These ideas of control are both usable and effective, but it all depends on how long the government can actually keep the citizens under the party’s control. The final difference between these two novels is their issues concerning their state of war and with who they are fighting with. For example, in The Hunger Games, their primary fighting is really focused on the internal point of view. Ever since the first revolution that engulfed the nation, they have been a struggling nation because of their internal issues and fighting. Even after the first revolution, the thirteen districts went another round, this time against their own government. They fought over power and the rights of man, struggling to stay together until the Capitol obliterated the revolt, as well as, ending the future of the thirteenth district. These internal struggles have plagued this great and prosperous nation and it just might cause another prolonged war in the future. In contrast, 1984 has the problem of war, not internally, but externally, meaning that the war is amongst other nations. Ever since the revolution, there have been three nations. These three nations have been continuously fighting and bickering from the moment they were created, in part because of the fear they want to bring onto their citizens. These wars have plagued them as well, making the cities and crowded areas inhospitable for humans because of the nuclear waste that has been dumped there due to warheads and rockets. These two novels show that no matter where the nation is created, war will always be present and created havoc for the remaining residents of the nation. This does not mean though that the war has to exist internally or even externally. It can go either way, but no matter the way, it ends up punishing the nation.

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